Apparatus for bending small pipes



March 25, 1930. E. A. ROCK APPARATUS FOR BENDING SMALL PIPES Filed March50, 1929 a i@ QERook, mimnr Patented Mar. 25, 1930 UNHTED STATES PATENTOFFICE EDGAItA. ROCK, DECEASED, LATE OF NORFOLK, NEBRASKA, BY CAROLINEF. ROCK, ADMINISTRATRIX, OF NORFOLK, NEBRASKA APPARATUS FOR BENDINGSMALL PIPES Application filed March 30, 1529. Serial No. 351,271.

This invention relates to apparatus for bending small pipes, and moreparticularly to apparatus for use in bending the small copper conduitsemployed in domestic refrigerating apparatus in making installations ofthis refrigerating apparatus in the refrigerator.

As will be obvious from a consideration of such apparatus, there isfrequently the necessity for making a'short bend in one of the coilpipes or conduits of the refrigerating system while the system is inposition upon the refrigerator and it will also be obvious that undersuch circumstances, the available 5 space for insertion ofa tool toaccomplish this bending is restricted. Furthermore, it is oftendesirable to bend a pipe, the ends of which are secured, rendering itimpossible to employ with the device many of the tools constructed forthis purpose. A bend cannot be made forcible without some restrainingdevice upon the pipe, as otherwise the pipe will widen transversely andflatten at the bend, thereby producing a stricture in the conduit whichis extremely likely to interrupt proper flow therethrough. I

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is theprovision of an apparatus which isso constructed that it may as beassembled about the pipe which is to be bent for the bending operation,which is small and may accordingly be employed in close quarters andwhich is extremely light in weight, so that it may be readilytransported in a tool kit or, if desired, in a coat pocket.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of thischaracter wherein the portion of the pipe at which the bend is beingformed is always confined so that it may not widen transversely and isaccordingly restricted against flattening.

These and other objects are attained by the construction shown in theaccompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention and wherein Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a pipe bending tool constructed in accordance with theinvention showing the same applied to a pipe at the completion of thebending operation; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through thebending apparatus illustrating the jaws in the position which they wouldoccupy at the beginning of a bending operation and showing a secondmanner of applying the pressure bar thereto;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

What is claimed Referring now more particularly to the drawing, thenumeral 10 generally designates a substantially L-shaped trough, thegroove 11 of which is at the exterior of the angle of the trough and isdeepened at its center or the apex of the bend, as indicated at 12. Theside walls of the trough at one end have lugs 13 which are provided withcoves 1& opening through the outer ends of the lugs for a purposepresently to appear.

The opposite ends of these trough walls have mounted thereon a pair ofpivot ele ments 16 which are preferably located upo'n ears 1? formedupon these walls. The bottom of the trough at the reentrant angle isthickened, as indicated at 18, and in its outer face is formed with ashallow socket 19, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

An L-shaped bending bar 20 is provided, the inner face of which isformed with a shallow groove 21 extending from end to end thereof andabout the end faces of the bar, as indicated at 22. The side faces ofthis bending bar at one end have mounted therein pivot elements 23adapted to engage in the coves 14: of the ears 13 of the trough memberand at the junction of the arms of this bar, a second pair of pivotelements 24 extends from opposite faces thereof.

In combination with the elements just described, there is provided ayoke comprising a cross bar or head 25 having extending therefrom a pairof parallel leg elements 26 spaced apart a distance such that they mayreceive the trough member therebetween.

The ends of these legs have hooks 27 for engagement with pivot elements16 or 24 and directed through the head and having threaded engagementtherewith is a pressure bar 28 having a lever handle 29'by means u: or)

of which it may be rotated. The inner end of this pressure bar has areduced terminal 30 for engagement 1n the socket 19 of the trough memberor in a socket 31 formed in gagedin the coves 14 of the ears 18 of thetrough member. The hooks 27 of the yoke are then engaged with the pivots16 and the end of the pressure bar engaged in the socket 31 of thebending bar. The pressurebar 28 is then rotated so'as to force the freeend of the bendmgbar toward thefree end of the trough member, thisbending bar engagin the conduit and forcing it before it, so

that it is bent about the camber of the central portion of the bottomwall of the trough. The portion of the conduit, in which the bend isbeing formed will lie between the side walls of'the trough so thatspreading of the conduit is prevented this time. To continue the bendingand obtain the maximum bend available with this tool, the hooks of theyoke are disengaged from the pivots l6 and engaged with the pivots 24,and the end of the pressure bar engaged in the socket 19. At this time,the pressure bar and trough may be brought to their fully'closedpositions, as illustrated in Figure 1.

It Will be noted that the manner of connecting the yoke and its pressurebar to the sections of the bending tool efiectually prevents separationof the elements of the tool. In other words, when the pressure bar isinitially engaged, the pressure applied thereto tends to move thebending bar and trough elements in opposite directions and applies itsforce in such manner that the pivots seat'more firmly in the coves. Thesame is true when the secondary engagement is made although, at thistime, such provision is not necessary, due to the fact that the bendalready formed in the pipe will institute a wedging action, tending tocause a movement of this character. Therefore, the tool sections whilereadily separable when not under pressure, tend to more firmly engagewhen under pressure.

It will be obvious that a structure of this character may be veryreadily and cheaply produced, may be made very light and accordinglyconveniently portable and will be durable and efficient in service. Itwill also be obvious thatthe construction hereinbefore set forth iscapable of a certain range of change and modification without materiallydeparting from the spirit of the invention and is accordingly notlimited thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed:

1. In a bending apparatus for use with small pipes, an angular memberhaving a trough formed in its cambered face, a similarly angled bendingbar having a pipe receiving groove formed in its inner face, coactingmeans at corresponding ends of the angular .member and bending bar fordetachably pivotally connecting the same to one another, the bending barbeingmovable into the trough of the bar, and means detachably engageablewith on'ekof said elements and having an adjustable pressure bar foren-- gagement With the other of said elements for moving the free end ofthe bending bar toward and into the trough of said member.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means pivotallyconnecting-themember and bending bar are detachable by movement of oneofthe elements in a given direction with relation to the other of theelements and the pressure bar applies its pressure in a di-. rectiontending to cause, movement ofthe first named element in the oppositedirection.

3. In a bending apparatus for use with small pipes, an angular memberhavinga trough formed in its cambered face, a similarly angled bendingbarhavinga. pipereceiving grooveformed in itsinner; face, co-

acting means at correspondingends of the angular member and bending barfor detachably pivotally connecting the same to one another, the bendingbar being movable into the trough of the member, the memberhaving a pairof pivot elements engaged with opposite side faces thereof at its freeend, the

bending bar at its free end and in its outer face having a socket, ayoke comprising a 7 head and a pair of legs, the legs having hooks todetachably engage the pivots at the free end of themember, anda'pressure bar adjustably directed through the head of the yoke andadapted to engage in thesocket of the bend ing bar. i

4. In a bending apparatus for use with small pipes, an angular memberhaving a trough formed in its cambered face, a simi larly angled bendingbarhavingapipe receiving groove formed in its inner face, coacting meansat corresponding ends of the angular member and bending bar fordetachably pivotallyconnecting the same to one another, the bending barbeing movable into the trough of the member, oneof said elements having.a pair of pivots at its side fa-cesand at a point spaced from thepivotal connection of said elements, the other of said elementsat acorresponding point and in its outer facehaving a socket, a yokecomprising a head and a pair of legs, the legs having hooks todetachably engage the pivots, and a pressure bar adj ustably directedthrough'the head of the yoke and adapted to engage in the socket of theother of the-elements. Y

5. In a-bending apparatus for use with small pipes, an angular memberhaving a trough formed in its cambered face, a similarly angled bendingbar having a pipe receiving groove formed in its inner face, coactingmeans at corresponding ends of the angular member and bending bar fordetachably pivotally connecting the same to one another, the bending barbeing movable into the trough of the member, one of said elements havingsecured to opposite side faces thereof at a point spaced from suchpivotal connection a pair of pivots, a yoke adapted to straddle theother of the elements and having hooks to detachably engage said pivots,and a pressure bar adjustable through the yoke to engage the outer faceof said other element.

6'. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means pivotallyconnecting the member and bending bar are detachable by movement of oneof the elements in a given direction With relation to the other of theelements and the pressure bar applies its pressure in adirection tendingto cause movement of the first named element in the opposite direction.5 In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CAROLINE F. ROCK, Administratrz'ae 0f the Estate of Edgar A.

Rock, Deceased.

